Duplex rail assembling elevator



Dec. 18, 1951 H. c. wAusoN ET AL 2,579,060

DUPLEX RAIL ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR v Filed Aug. 25, 1947 Y 2 SHEETSSHEET l I 3mantors Horace C. Wauson Wa/fer E. Bennefi', Jr:

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. Gttomegs Dec. 18, 1951 H. c. WAUSON EI'AL 2,579,060

DUPLEX RAIL ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I Snnentors Horace C. Wauson Wa /fer E. BenneffiJr.

Gttornegs Patented Dec. 18, 1951 i DUPLEX RAIL ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR Horace C. Wausori' and Walter E.-Bennett, Jr., Houston, Tex., assignors of one-half to Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application August 2 5, 1947, Serial No. 770,404

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in duplex rail assembling elevators, and in particular to novel and useful arrangements and structures for the upper rail thereof.

The invention is in some respects an improvement over our previous invention as disclosed and set forth in our Patent No. 2,401,125, issued May 28, 1946, although it may be applied with beneficial and desirable results to many other types of duplex rail assembling elevators.

This invention includes among its objects the objects set forth in the above identified patent. The invention also includes additional objects, an important one being the elimination of lateral movement of the upper rail beyond the limit or outline of the assembling elevator, whereby modification or alteration of a typesetting machine upon which the elevator is positionedis eliminated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved upper rail for a duplex rail assembling elevator wherein provision is made for allowing a portion of the rail to be shifted longitudinally and permit matricesto drop directly onto the lower or bottom rail, such shifting of the upper rail being accomplished without the movement of any portion of said rail beyond the outline or confines of the elevator, whereby the protrusion of any portion of the rail or the elevator inany operating position is eliminated and the necessity for altering or cutting away portions of the typesetting machine upon which the elevator is positioned,isrendered unnecessary. v I A further object of-the invention'is to provide an improved upper rail for a duplex rail assembling elevator wherein the rail is provided with a movable portion carrying a projection for engaging matrices carried upon the elevator, that portion of the rail carrying the projection being laterally shiftable for subsequent direct feeding of matrices onto the lower rail.

" Yet another object of the invention i to provide an improved upper rail for a duplex rail assembling elevator having a portion of said upper rail shiftable longitudinally with respect to the balance of the rail, said portion being unimpeded in its movement whereby it may be engaged by a matrix fed into the elevator and shifted longi tudinally, and will remain in the position to which it is shifted. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved upper rail for a duplex ass sembling elevator, said rail being laterallyshifte able as a unit to expose the lower rail and having a; rela ively narrow bridging section individually .6 Claims. (Cl. 199-29) shiftable laterally, said rail including a longitudi-v nally movable section adapted to telescope the non-longitudinally movable portion of the rail to increase the gap provided by lateral movement of the bridging section while continuing tosupport matrices previously composed upon the upper rail. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved upper rail of the character set forth wherein the bridging section coacts with the longitudinally shiftable section of the rail to return in a positive-fashion the latter section to an unshifted position upon return of the bridging section to a matrix-supporting position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention. 1"

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown; and wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of a duplex rail assembling elevator having an upper grail constructed in accordance with thi invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the assembler shown in Fig; 1, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sec-f tional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, showing a matrix supported upon the upper rail unit, 'Fig. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical, sec-itional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the mounting 'of the upper rail unit within the elevator, 1 Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the upper rail unit showing the relationship of'its sections, f Fig. 7 'is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view, similar in some respects to Figf6, showing the bridging section'retracted, f Fig. 8 1s a'view similar to Fig. 7, showing t e bridging section retracted, and the laterally mov aible section moved away from said bridgingsec-v on, I Fig. 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, isometric view of a modified form of the bridging section. In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates the frame of the forward portion of duplex rail assembing elevator or assembler which includes a horizontal body or head H having an offset de'-' pending shank l2. In order to reduce the weight of the shank, the'central portion thereof out 3 out in the usual manner. An opening i3 is formed in the lower portion of the shank |2 for receiving a suitable bolt (not shown) so that the frame may be secured to a typesetting machine (not shown). A lower rail M, of conventional construction, is preferably made integral with the rear face of the head adjacent its upper surface as shownin Fig. 4,-said upper surface being substantially flat for receiving an upper rail unit A. A retaining bar |5c overlies the upper rail unit A and is secured to the head H by suitable screws l6, whereby said'unit is" confined between the bar and the uppersurface of said head. For spacingv thebar-relativexto the head, small bearing blocks maybe inter-.

posed therebetween, or made integral with one or the other, and is positioned one ateach end of the unit A as shown in Fig'sfl, 5 and 6.

The usual gate |8 extends longitudinally above the frame 10 so as to overlie the head H and is pivota ly ure h q y-u tand n arms end members |9.' A matrix delivery throat 23 disposed adjacent the right hand end of the frame and a star-wheel 2| is positioned therebelowin the conventional manner. The star wheel is adapted to be constantly rotated for controlling the feeding of matrices M from the throat to the rails of the assembler, and has its shaft 22 extending parallel and transversely at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said assembler so that the, plane of rotation thereof is also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the assembler.

The'upp er rail unit A is slidable laterally or transversely upon the flat upper surface of the head H. and has itsjforward edge portion pro-. jecting beyond theforward face thereof, as is clearly. shown in Fig. 4. This lateral or trans verse sliding movementof the unit A will project and. retract the rear edge portion of said assembly relative to the rear face of the head II. For laterally moving or retracting the unit, a shaft or rod 23, having a hand lever 24 secured thereto, is disposed forwardly of the head below said unit and is 'rotatably journaled within suitable bearing collars 25 which are preferably formed integral with said head. Actuating arms 23, are carried bythe shaft23 and have their upper ends engaging'witfhin openings 21 formed in the rear edge portion of the unit. Thus, upon swinging of the lever 24, the shaft 23. will be turned or rotated and a lateral or transverse sliding movement, will be impartedv to. the unit due to the arms 26 engaging within the openings 21)." A lug 28.is formed on the upper. end of the lever for engaging the forward face of the head so as to limit turning of theshaft and inward or rearward movement ofthe unit. I

Qn other types 'o'f machines the lever 24fhas it upper nd xtende the s m asa i i arms 25, and engaging an opening in the rail much the same as openings 21. The lever 24 in this type of unit is not attached to theshaft 23, but pivots thereonand lateral movement or retractionof the unit is attained by-a direct ace tion of the extended lever 24, the arms 24 maintaining parallelism of the rail unit in relation to the head.

Asis clearly shown inFigs. 6, land 8, theunit A. is flat and preferably composed of three independent sections, a main matrix supporting section 30, a longitudinally movable supporting section or rail portion 31, and a bridging section orelement 32. The section 30. has the openings 21 formed therein and'consists of an elongate, rectangular plate or. member having a longitu iii dinally extending lug 33 at the left-hand end of its rearward edge. In the retracted position of the upper rail, the forward edge of the lug 33 engages the left-hand spacer or bearing block I! to limit the forward motion of the upper rail unit A.

- The right-handend of the main section 33 is divided by a longitudinally extending, rectangular slot or notch 34, said notch difurcating or dividing the right-hand end of the section 33 into a pair of relatively wide, longitudinally extending fingers 35 and 33, respectively. The forward finger 35 .is somewhat wider than the rearward finger 36 and is of greater length, as is clearly shown. in Figs. 6, 'I and 8. ward edge of the rearward finger 33 is cut away .atan angle for a portion of its length and bev- "eled or undercut at 37, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9.

The'longitudinally movable section 3| forms an extension of the matrix-supporting edge of the main section 30 and is substantially'rectangular in shape with a triangular beveled lu or gate. 38 adapted to be received in the cut away portion 31 to position the rearward edges of the sections 36 and 3| in longitudinal alinement. The section 3| also carries an elongate rectangular lug or retaining guide 39 ha ving a snug slid-.- ing fit within the slot or notch 34,, the guide 39. extending parallel to the gate .38. whereby the section 3| may undergo limited longitudinal movement with respect to the main section 30. However, it is pointed out that the engagement of the rearward finger 36 between the gate 38 and the guide 39 prevents lateral movement or shifting of the section 3| with respect to. the sec.- tion 30 so that as the latter is shifted laterally by means 'of the handle or lever 24', the section 3| is caused" to be laterally shifted therewith. It is also pointed'out that the section 3| undergoes, only limited longitudinal movement with respect to'the section 30 so that the gate 38 is always partially engaged within the cut away portion 31 and a substantially continuous matrixs,upporting surface thus provided at all times by the rearward edge portions of said sections 3d and 3|. Obviously, any desirable or suitable type of sliding joint betweenthe sections 33 and 3| may be employed so long as such joint permits longit'udjinal shifting of the sections, one with respect to the other, while providing a substantially conuo po tin sur ce for he matrices which ar e'fed'onto the upper rail unit A from the typesetting machine. I

.The longitudinally shiftable section 3| carries .a triangular notch 40 in its forward edge, the

notch being so positioned'as to have, one leg, 4|. in substantial alinement with the right-hand end the or ar fi e 35 h the sec io 3 $IiI itsright-hand position as shown in Fig. '7. The bridging element or section 32 extends transversely along the right-hand end of the plate 3|! adjacent the star wheel 2|. The section 32 abuts the "right-hand end of the finger 35 and is of a length substantially equal to the combined width of the sections 3U-and 3|, whereby the rearend of sai dsection 32" is in substantial alinement with matrix-supporting edge of said sections. An offset, preferably rectangular, lug or tongue 42 projects'rearwardly from the bridging section at its outer edge portion and its inner surface engages the outer end of a longitudinally extending lug 43 formed upon the right-hand end of the section 3|. Although'the particular shape of the tongue is not essential, the same should be only of a width sufficient to support a single matrix M in theposition shown in Fig. 4, the rearmarginal The rearcase of the tonguebeing alined 'withthe-longttudinal edges of the sections 30 and 31 so as to form a continuation of the upper rail constituted by said sections. i The forward end of the bridging section 32 projects beyond the forward edge of the. plate 30 and has a lateral flange or lip 44 formed thereon for engaging said forward edge. Thus, retraction of the sections 30 and 3| will result in retraction of the bridging element 32. v

For moving the element 32 laterally of the head I I. and independently of theother sections of the unit A, a :lever 45 is journaled upon the shaft 23 and is provided with an upstanding arm 46 which is adapted to engagewithin an opening4'l formed in the forward edge portion of said element. By rocking the lever 45 upon the shaft .23, the arm 46 may be swung forwardly and rearwardly so as to move or slide the, element in similar directions. 'Due to the provision of the lateral-lip 44, rearward or reverse movement of the element will slide the other sections of theunit A rearwardly in the event that the same have been moved forwardly. Thus, the sections of the unit may be moved together in a forward direction by manipulating the lever 24 and in the'opposite direction by means of the lever 45. The section 32 carries a rearwardly extending, triangular lug 46', as a continuation of its left-hand .side. As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the lug 46' is so positioned as to be in substantial alinement with the triangular recess 40, and as shown in Fig. 6 engages within said recess when the section 32 is in its rearward position and the section 3| isin its right-handposition. The provision of the triangular notch and lug, 40 and 46, permits the. automatic returnof the section 3l.. to'its right-hand position when the section 32 is moved to its rearward or bridgingvposition. Thus, assuming the section 32 to be in its forward or non-bridging position and the section 31 to have been shifted to its left-handposition, the various elements will bear the relation illustrated in Fig. 8. Now, upon the return of the section 32 to its bridging position, the angular face of the lug 46' engaging the angular face' of the recess 4n will cause thesection3l to be shifted to the right, as shown in Fig. 6. 'Inthis manner, each time the section 32 is returned to its bridging position, the section 3| is automatically shifted or returned to its right-hand position and arsubstantially continuous upper rail for supporting matrices isprovided. V i

A recess 41' is formed in the'lower surfaceof the bar and receives -a leaf or fiat'spring 48 which is secured within said recess by means'of suitable screws 49. The free endof the sprin 48 pressesupon the upper surface of the upper rail unit A for holding said. unit in engagement with the flat upper-surface of the'head LL; Being held in frictional engagement withthe upper sure face of. the head, theunitis not subject to accidental or unintentionalmovement with respect to said head. If desired, one or more springpressed balls 50 maybe mounted in the .u pper surface of the head ll so as to engage the under surface of the unit A, and are preferably disposed beneath the plate or main section 30 with the ball engaging within a complementary-depression or opening 5| when the unit A is in its rearward- .most position.

in the position shown in Figs. 1 through "6, thematriceswill be supported upon and moved to the left along the sections 30 and 3| away from the throat and star wheel as additional matrices are fed' and directed onto said rail. Whenever it is desired to feed one or more matrices onto the lower rail I4, the lever 45 is rocked upon the shaft 23 so as to swing the arm 46 forwardly and. retract the bridging element 32 with; its tongue 42. As is shown in Fig. 7, the retraction of the bridging element will leave a space-:or opening at the right-hand end of the rail portion 3| adjacent the star wheel, which space or open ing is of suflicient width to accommodate only:.a single matrix M. Thus, whenever the bridging element is retracted, matrices will be fedrdi-r rectly upon the lower rail I4.

Due to the narrow width of the bridging tongue,

the star wheel will normally kick or move the matrices assembled upon the upper rail unit beyond said tongue so that said matrices will be supported by the sections 30 and 3|. This move ment to the left of the assembled matrices will be materially assisted by the conventional spaceband (not shown) which will usually. be interposed between each change of type and the, weight and size of which will cause said assembledmatrices to move further to the left, whereby'no matrices will be resting upon the tongue 43 upon retraction of the element 32. Y

It sometimes happens that a matrix will bind or hang upon the exposed end of the right-hand lug 43' between said lug and the star wheel due to the matrix being of excessivethickness 0r having an irregularity such as a burr, thereon. I In this event, subsequently. fed matrices would be prevented from passing through the space and onto the lower rail. However, dueto the longitudinally-shiftable mounting of the rail portion 3|, the binding or hanging of a matrix will force or move the section3l to the left, causing the gate 38 to telescope the cut-away portion3l,'until the high point or tooth of the star wheel has passed. As soon as this occurs, the matrix is no longer under a restraining force and will drop onto the lower rail through the space. Having been shifted to the left, the section 3| will remain in its new position and provide additional clearance or space through which matrices may fall. Thus, matrices may be fed directly upon the lower rail without manipulation by'the oper ator each time a matrix is fed upon said rail. Byreturning the bridging element to its original or projecting position, the tongue 42 will again be alined with the rail portion 3| whereby the matrices will be fed upon the upper rail. Whenever ordinary or light face type is being set without mixed type, the entire unit A may be retracted by swinging the lever 24 so as to turn the shaft 23 and swing the arms 26 forwardly. Due to the provision of the lip 44, the bridging element 32 will be retracted upon swinging of the lever 24. In order to return the unit to its original or projected position, it is only necessary to-rock the lever 45 which will result in the rearward movement of the entire unit.

From the foregoing, it is manifest that-simple, economical upper rail unit has been provided and that the same isadapted to be mounted upon, or incorporated in, any type of duplex rail assembling elevator or assembler. The matrices may be fed onto either the upper or lower rail without excessive manipulation or concentration of. the operator, whereby the latter may devote his time to the keyboard. I The rail portion sec; tiorf'3l of the unit isslidable' longitudinally rel'a- 7 t-ive to the. other sections and the bridging ele-: ment: may be moved relative to the other sections; Also, the entire. unit may be. moved; laterally or transversely by manipulation of theleyers 24. or 45 to retract .and project said entire unit. Since the tongue. 42 is only of a width sufiicient to accommodate a. single. matrix, there is no danger of a matrix accidentally falling to the lower .rail

upon retraction of the bridging member... f course-,the tension of the star wheel which is imposed upon the composed or assembled matrices is utilized to assure said matrices being moved beyond or past the tongue 42 prior to retraction of the same. Attention is also directed to the fact that matrices may be fed directly onto-the lower rail while the upper-rail is supporting other matrices.

The telescoping of the section 31 with respect to the section 3|! is important in that such movement takes place entirely within the confines of the elevator frame I0 whereby no portions of the rail A project any time from said frame. With this structure, the invention may be applied'to any standard form of typesetting machine without alteration of any portion of the machine other than the elevator itself. The speed and economy of installation is thus materially improved. a

A modified form of the bridgingsection 32- is shown in Fig. of the drawings. This modified form, designated by the numeral 32", is substantially-identical to the section 32 and carries in addition an upstanding lug or tit 32 upon the extreme right-hand portion of the lug. The additlon of this lug 52- is desirable when this invention is to "be incorporated into the assemblyeleya-tors used upon certain models'of typesetting machines which have a retaining plate covering only the lower or fixed rail.

. The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of' the appended claims, without departing. from the spiritof the invention.

,What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcntis: lfA duplex rail assembling elevator including, aframe, a lower rail mounted on the frame, and an. upper rail unit carried by said frame and dis}- pcsed above the lower rail, at least a portion of the. upper rail being movable longitudinally with respect to. the frame, the unit having a section movable laterally with respect to the framev so asto expose a. portion of said lower rail, the longitudinally movable portion of the upper rail having; a. recess; in one longitudinal edge thereof spaced. from the ends of said longitudinally movable portion, and the section carrying a projection engaging within said recess in. one position of, said section to prevent any longitudinal move merit of said portion.

2.. A, duplex, rail assembling elevator, including, a frame, a lower rail mounted, on the. frame an upper rail unit carried by said frame and. disposedabove the lower rail, the unitfhavi ng a section, movable laterally with respect. to the frame. so as to expose a portion of said lower rail, the remainder of the upper rail being divided into two portions, one of which is movable Ion.- gitudinally of the frame and. with respect to the other, the laterally moving section carrying. a projection engaging within a recess in the Iongi tudinally movable, portion of the rail in. one -pOsn 8. ticn or. said section to prevent any longitudinal movement, thereof.

3;. A duplex rail assembling elevator including, a frame, a lower rail mounted on the. framel and an upper'railim'lt. carried. by said frame anddisposed. above the lower rail, the unit having, an independently retractile section for exposing. a portion of said lower rail so that retraction of the section permits. feeding of. matrices directly onto the lower rail while said: unit supports; other matrices, a portion of the rail unit which supports matrices upon. retraction. oi said. section being movable longitudinally away from said section and with respect to the. remainder of. said rail unit, whereby said portion may. undergolonn gitudinal movement away from the section. upon binding of matrices; being fed directly onto the lower rail so as to permit said. matrices to; fall onto. said rail, and. a connection between the. retractilesection and the longitudinally movable portion of the rail for causing the latter portion to be returned toward the section upon. extension of said section to an unretracted position. 4. A duplex rail assembling elevator including, a frame, a lower rail mountedon the frame, and an upper rail unit carried. by said frame. and disposed above the lower rail, the unit having an independently retractile section for exposing a portion of said lower rail so thatv retraction: of the section permits feeding of matrices directly onto the lower rail while said unit supports other matrices, a portionof: the rail unit which supports matrices upon retraction of saidv section being movable longitudinally away from said section. and with respect to the remainder of said rail unit, whereby said portion may undergo. lon-' gitu'dina-lmovement away from" the. section upon binding of matrices being fed directly onto-the lower rail ed as to permit said matrices to fall onto said rail, and a wedge connection between the retractile section and the longitudinally mov able portion of the rail for causing the latter portion to be returned toward the section upon extension of said section to an unretracted posi tioh, 5. A duplex rail assembling elevator including, a-i'rame, a lower rail mounted on the frame, and anupper railunit carried by said frame and disposed above the lower rail, the unit having an independently 'retracti-le section for exposing a portion of said lower rail so that retractionof the section permits feeding of matrices directly onto the lower rail while said unitsupportsother matrices, a portion of the rail unit which supports matrices upon retraction of said section being movable longitudinally away from said section and telescoping the remainder of said rail unit, whereby said portion may undergo longitudinal movement away from the section upon binding of matrices being fed directly onto the lower rail so as to permit said matrices to fall onto said rail, and a connection between the retractile section'and the longitudinallymovable portion of the rail for causing the latter portion to be returned toward the section uponextension of said section to an unretracted position.

6L A duplex rail assembling elevator including, a frame, a lower rail mounted onthe frame, and an upper rai-l unit carried by said frame and disposed above'the lowerrail, said upper railproviding a substantially continuous matrix-supporting surface, the unit having anind'ependently retractile section adapted to be retracted for exposing a'portion or said lower rail sojthat matrices may be fed directly onto the lower rail,

9 10 while the balance of the upper rail unit supports other matrices, said balance of the rail unit in- R NCES CITED 7 cluding at least two matrix'supportmg sections The following references are of record in the one of the latter sections being movable longifil of this patent;

tudinally with respect to the other and with 5 respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame, a UNITED STATES PATENTS wedge carried by the longitudinally movable sec- Number Name Date tion, a wedge carried by the independently re- 825, 54 Homans July 3, 1906 tractile section and engaging the first named 1,462,293 Neumayer y 1923 wedge, whereby return of the retractile section m 2,401,125 Wauson May 28, 1946 to an unretracted position causes the engaging wedges to shift the longitudinally movable sections with respect to the remaining section of the rail unit.

HORACE C. WAUSON. 15 WALTER E. BENNETT, JR. 

